The duo was part of the 24 crew members on board the German vessel when it collided with INS Vindhyagiri. Their counsel, Ashok Mundargi, said they moved the high court after the Yellow Gate police refused to release their passports although the Director General of Shipping intimated them about completion of the investigation.

According to their petition, the accident was because of the negligence of another vessel MV Seaeagle and naval ships INS Vindhyagiri and INS Godavari.

However, the police registered a case against the crew members of MV Nordlake and also impounded their passports and continuous discharge certificates, one of the documents required for sailing.

The court has given the Yellow Gate police time till Monday to submit an affidavit, stating reasons for withholding the master’s passport.